AutoBeta(AutoBeta.net)01/02 Report--

In response to a netizen's question about the reproduction of the electric beetle, Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Dis said on December 31, 2021, "if the voice is loud enough, it is also possible to reproduce a classic car for China." 'Classic models always bring back good memories, and the Beatles are indeed a very classic model, 'Mr. Deiss said. Deiss further said, "We have considered Beetle dune SUVs and other classic models, and anything is possible." We are also actively thinking about how to extend this classic inheritance to the electric car sector, and we would like to hear suggestions from China. If there is a strong enough voice, it is also possible to copy a special classic model for China. "

When it comes to Volkswagen's classic models, the Beatles must have a place. The Beetle is the first Volkswagen model, and it is also one of the models with a long history. With its unique body design and long history, the Beetle has sold more than 20 million cars in 82 years. However, as beetle sales continued to decline, Volkswagen decided to stop producing the beetle. In July 2019, the last Beetle left the production line in Mexico, and Volkswagen, a German car company that has been around for nearly 70 years, officially stopped production.

Volkswagen is likely to carve a classic model for China, and many netizens think of Euler cars. According to media reports, the Euler brand will launch at least four new models this year, including ballet cat, lightning cat, punk cat and cherry cat, in the Great Wall's 2022 new car plan. Among them, ballet cats, which focus on female consumers, will be the first to appear on the market early next year, with a price range of 15-200000 yuan. Lightning cats focus on neutral consumers, which probably means that both male and female consumers can drive the new car, which is expected to go on sale in the second quarter of next year. The price range may be around 200000 yuan. Punk cats focus on two-dimensional women and are expected to sell for between 20 and 250000 yuan.

Punk Cat was first unveiled at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show, while Ballet Cat was unveiled at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show. The appearance of the two models is very similar. From the appearance of the exhibition car, ballet cats and punk cats are also different from Euler models on sale, the overall shape is very round, the headlight group uses an oval shape, double-row door design and two-color body, and the front and rear wings are wide out of the body to form a wide-body effect. At the rear of the body, the two silver strips extending to the rear of the car are very eye-catching, and the rear headlamp group also uses an oval shape, which makes the whole vehicle design very "old-fashioned". Punk cats were controversial in the market at the beginning of their debut, while foreign media reported that Volkswagen was interested in suing the Great Wall for copying the original Volkswagen Beetle. Foreign media reported that although the Volkswagen Beetle officially stopped production in 2019, the design copyright of the Volkswagen Beetle still belongs to Volkswagen Group, and we are currently discussing whether the Great Wall European punk cat infringes on the design patent of Volkswagen. And will reserve the right to take any necessary legal steps. However, Volkswagen did not respond to whether to sue Great Wall over design patents.

At present, the design of the punk cat has been applied in the National Patent Office, coupled with the Great Wall Euler's new car plan, the listing of the punk cat is almost certain. So, if Volkswagen plans to re-engrave the electric beetle for the Chinese market, the scene will become very awkward. Although the beetle has stopped production, it still has a reputation in China, and Euler is an independent new energy car brand. Whether it will bear "plagiarism" or face legal action.

It is worth mentioning that Volkswagen Group intended to "revive" it by electrification. At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019, Volkswagen showed a pure electric version of the Beetle, using the e-up electric drive system to become a new e-Beetle, and registered the e-Beetle trademark in 2020, which is consistent with Deiss's statement that "I have considered reengraving the Beetle." As for what Volkswagen will do on the reproduction of the Beetle, we will continue to pay attention to it.

Welcome to subscribe to the WeChat public account "Automotive Industry Focus" to get the first-hand insider information on the automotive industry and talk about things in the automotive circle. Welcome to break the news! WeChat ID autoWechat